Francisco Lindor's home run couldn't mask this glaring NY Mets issue

The streak had become something of a quiet superstition. Every time Francisco Lindor launched a ball into the seats, it felt like the New York Mets were closing in on victory. And when the final out came, the familiar call from the broadcast booth, “Put it in the books”, would seal the moment. No one needed to say it outright, but the results spoke for themselves: 28 times Lindor homered, 28 wins followed. It was a rhythm that felt unbreakable.

And then, it didn’t. Lindor went deep again Sunday night, this time into losing silence. The streak snapped not because the swing lacked force, but because everything around it did. For all the thunder at the top of the lineup, the echo rarely reaches the bottom these days. And if a home run can’t even save them now, it’s fair to wonder who’s left to carry the weight.

Francisco Lindor’s streak ending highlights a growing problem for the NY Mets with the bottom of the lineup struggling to produce lately.

Sunday night’s loss to the Phillies exposed just how thin the Mets’ offense has become beyond their top hitters. Francisco Lindor’s solo home run accounted for New York’s only run in a 7–1 defeat. Remarkably, it marked the first time since July 3rd of last year that Lindor homered and the Mets came up short, a rare break in a nearly flawless pattern.

The bottom four hitters in the lineup were especially silent, going 0 for 12 on Sunday. Their inability to produce has been a recurring issue, as a consistent offense from the lower end of the order has been scarce. When the lineup stalls this far down, the burden falls heavily on the stars at the top to carry the team.

Over the past 12 games, the Mets’ hitters batting six through nine have combined for a dismal .176 batting average. During that stretch, they have scored only 13 runs and driven in 10 RBI, numbers that are underwhelming for any major league lineup trying to maintain momentum. It is worth noting that six of those runs came in Saturday’s blowout win against the Phillies, showing that production has been almost nonexistent outside of that game.

This lack of depth has made it clear the Mets need more balance in their lineup. Fortunately, Mark Vientos is nearing a return from the injured list, hoping he can help lengthen the lineup and provide some much-needed offense. Meanwhile, the team sent Francisco Álvarez down to the minors to work through his struggles and hopefully regain the power he showed during his rookie season. Until the bottom of the order starts producing more consistently, the Mets will continue to lean heavily on their top hitters, and that makes sustained success harder to achieve.

The end of Lindor’s remarkable streak highlights a troubling reality for the Mets. Their offense has become too dependent on the top of the order, while the bottom continues to struggle. Even Lindor’s power on Sunday night couldn’t bring New York the win. Until the lower part of the lineup starts producing more consistently, the Mets risk coming up short no matter how well their stars perform.